Volunteer in Medicine in Peru - Cusco

At first, I was immensely dubious about whether I should volunteer abroad via IVHQ. However, upon arrival at the site in Cusco, I was truly impressed regarding the safety of the program and the experiences that the program provides. I did not have many problems at my medical project placement. I learned a lot by shadowing doctors and nurses and really understanding the community and considering the differences between health care back home and health care in Peru. At times when the main doctor was absent, I needed to help out the clinic by completing simple tasks such as rolling gauze or drawing lines in a book. As a volunteer, you do not always get to things that are interesting. Regardless, I was able to learn from the experience and I thank IVHQ for giving me the opportunity to meet new people and help me familiarize myself with the Cusco community.

This was my first time travelling abroad, and I'm so grateful I was directed to the IVHQ program. Leading up to the program date IVHQ always quickly and thoroughly answered all my questions, made sure I was adequately prepared to travel and always made me feel safe and secure with my decision to travel with them. They also always very clearly emphasized the importance of abroad volunteer work as well as making very clear to keep realistic expectations of your project. Being in medical project there really is only so much one person can do to help, but I knew to go in with an open mind so I came out having learned so much, felt good about the work I'd done and thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cusco. My homestay was an incredible experience, really helped me learn Spanish. And the whole experience was very affordable! Anybody looking to travel and do a little good at the same time I whole heartedly encourage them to go through IVHQ!

I recently embarked on my first medical/healthcare mission trip in Cusco, Peru. I am a registered nurse and my son is a pre-med student at college. Doing this journey together was not only a great bonding experience but it gave us a chance to visit another country and help people in need. From start to finish, IVHQ was a great company with which to deal. Everyone we had contact with was very accommodating, answered all of my questions, and frequently checked in before/during/after our trip. Our local team in Cusco was also fantastic—ensuring our volunteer positions were well explained and that our needs were met. I could not have been matched with a better host mom who went above and beyond to accommodate my many dietary restrictions! After completing our assignment each day, my son and I had time to explore Cusco and experience its culture—I even held an alpaca! If you are are thinking of doing any type of volunteer work, I highly recommend IVHQ—they offer a variety of different projects around the world!